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Business: Cannabis & Restricted-Industry Media Buying Agency
Roles Hired: Media Buyers (2 hires)
Objective: Hire client-facing media buyers with restricted-industry experience while improving support coverage for U.S. West Coast clients.
Outcome: 2 direct hires placed in less than 1 month. $54,000 saved annually while expanding operations into LATAM and strengthening client communication.

Aiminity works in cannabis and related restricted-industry products, and already had a large outsourced media buying team in Europe. That created two gaps. First, they needed media buyers comfortable communicating directly with clients, not just executing in the background. Second, those buyers had to understand restricted industries, since running paid traffic for cannabis brands isn’t the same as standard media buying. And because their team was entirely Europe-based, they struggled to support clients on the U.S. West Coast, where the time difference made real-time communication difficult.
We mapped both direct and indirect competitors to find media buyers with the right background: people who’d freelanced or worked specifically for cannabis brands, or who otherwise had restricted-industry experience. On top of the technical fit, the non-negotiable filter was client communication; they had to be comfortable being a point of contact, not just a buyer. We sourced in LATAM, which solved the time-zone problem at the same time by putting team members in better alignment with West Coast clients.
In less than a month, we delivered two mid-level-to-senior media buyers with restricted-industry experience who were comfortable owning client communication. The shortlist was strong enough that Aiminity chose to hire a second buyer they hadn’t originally planned on. Beyond the hires themselves, it expanded their operations into LATAM and finally gave them team members who could communicate with West Coast clients in real time, closing a gap their Europe-only team couldn’t.
Media buying experience alone wasn't enough for this role.
Aiminity needed professionals who understood restricted industries, could communicate directly with clients, and were available during U.S. business hours. Finding all three qualities in one candidate significantly narrows the talent pool. ⚡
By targeting media buyers with cannabis and compliance-sensitive advertising experience and sourcing from LATAM, Zabota solved both the expertise gap and the time-zone challenge at the same time. 🚀
The result was more than two hires. Aiminity gained client-facing operators who could support West Coast accounts in real time and expanded their operational footprint beyond Europe for the first time. 📈

We map direct competitors, adjacent industries, and specialized talent pools where candidates have already managed campaigns in compliance-heavy environments. This helps us identify professionals with relevant experience rather than general media buyers.
The client needed media buyers who could speak directly with customers, explain strategy, answer questions, and manage relationships. Strong communication skills were just as important as technical advertising expertise.
The company already had a Europe-based team but struggled to support U.S. West Coast clients in real time. LATAM provided better time-zone alignment while maintaining access to highly qualified talent.
Timelines depend on the role, but when sourcing is focused and criteria are clearly defined, specialized positions can often be filled in a matter of weeks. In this case, both hires were completed in less than one month.
Yes. Many clients initially hire in one geography and later expand into others. We help identify the best talent markets based on role requirements, communication needs, time-zone considerations, and budget goals.